The goal of the book drive is to empower the youth through reading and improving literacy rates in disadvantaged communities. PHOTO: Supplied/ Afua Duah
Three student organisations at Stellenbosch University (SU) have partnered for an initiative to collect books for two local disadvantaged primary schools.
The book drive, which will run from 17 to 28 August, is a collaborative project between United Nations Associations of South Africa (UNASA) Stellenbosch Chapter, BA Student Committee (BASC) and Operation Smile Society, said Akhona Shabangu, UNASA committee member of the Stellenbosch Chapter.
The donations will be made to grade three and grade four learners of iKhaya Primary School and Pieter Langeveld Primary School, said Afua Duah, BASC committee member.
According to Shabangu, the organisations came together to raise awareness and to address the issue of improving youth literacy.
The student organisations are working with communities in Stellenbosch in order to raise awareness and to address the issue of raising youth literacy. PHOTO: Unsplash/ Element5 Digital
“This initiative is important as it not only raises awareness of the literacy crisis that we are facing during this pandemic, but it also aims to alleviate the crisis by actively taking steps to improve the literacy rates,” said Shabangu.
The organisations are hoping to empower the youth during this challenging time of Covid-19, so that they can gain literacy skills during lockdown, she said.
“We want to use our resources practically to make a difference through education. Therefore, we are actively working with schools in order to promote education and literacy skills in the broader Stellenbosch community,” stated Duah.
Kaydé Lewis, Operation Smile Society committee member, encourages anyone who can, to donate books to the cause.
Reading not only improves literacy but offers a welcomed distraction to readers, especially during these challenging times. PHOTO: Unsplash/ Aaron Burden
The societies are collecting both recreational books and academic textbooks, Shabangu said. According to Shabangu, anyone who wishes to make monetary contributions towards the cause may also do so.
Book donations and money can be delivered to the allocated delivery stations, said Duah. The first drop off point is with Duah at 23 Cluver Road, Stellenbosch. Whilst the second drop off point is at 2 De Waal Road, Nerina Ladies Residence, with Shabangu, Duah said.
According to Lewis, books often provide the opportunity for readers to escape through stories. In addition, it inspires growth and learning, said Lewis.
“Not everyone has the privilege of having access to books and this is especially important now, where we could all use a distraction from everything that is going on in the world at the moment,” said Lewis.